Depositing torpedoes in snow-banks



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. GUNTHER, OF NEW UTREOHT, NEW YORK.

DEPOSITING TORPEDOES IN SNOW-BANKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,495, dated July 17, 1883.

I v Application filed Jannary17,1883. (N model.) I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE A. GUNTHER, of New Utrecht, Kings county, New York, have invented a new Improved Device for Depositing Torpedoes in Snow-Banks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a improved device for depositing torpedoes in snow-banks; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the weight, the torpedo, and the device for exploding the torpedo.

On the front end of a heavily-built platform-car, A, a strong and high snow-plow, B, is secured, and is securely braced and stifiened "in some suitable manner from frame-work on the car. A tower or other structure, 0, from thirty to forty feet high, is erected on the plat form-car, and a long boom or pole, D, projects from the top of the tower beyond the front end of the carthat is, beyond the snowplow B which boom or pole is suitably strengthened and stiffened. A-track-rod, E, is secured to both ends of the boom or pole, and is inclined, as shown, from the inner toward the outer end of the same. A grooved pulley, F, runs on the track-rod E, and from the said pulley F a grooved pulley, G, is suspended by means of hanger H. A rope or chain, J, passes over the pulley G, and has one end secured to the tower or to a Windlass in the same, and to the opposite end of the rope or chain J a weight,

7 L, is attached, which is provided at its upper end with a cross-piece, K. The weight is provided in its lower end with a longitudinal recess or aperture, N, containing a verticallymovable bolt, 0, provided at its upper end with a head, P. The aperture N is contracted at its lower end to form shoulders a, against which the head P can strike to prevent'bolt 0 from being withdrawn from the aperture. A spring, Q, surrounding the bolt 0, is contained between the bottom of the weight L and a 'disk, M, mounted on the bolt. The torpedo R is provided in its top with an aperture, S, and at the bottom of the aperture an explosive cap, T, rests 011 an upwardly-projecting shoulder or pin or other suitable object in the torpedo. The lower part of the bolt 0 is passed into the aperture S in the torpedo, and the torpedo is suspended frointhe disk M by means of clip-hooks or other suitable devices, W, attached to the top of the torpedo, whereby the torpedo may be suspended from the bolt 0. The spring Q pulls upward on the disk M, and thus draws the point of the bolt 0 upward from the cap T.

The operation is as follows: The snow-plow B is forced into the snow-bank as .far as possible. A torpedo or cartridge is attached to the end of the rope or chain J, which,with the pulleys F G, is then at the tower. If the chain or rope J is slackened or released, the pulley F will run down the track-rod E to the end of the pole or boom D, and when it arrives at the end of the same the chain or rope E will run down over the pulley G and the cartridge or torpedo R will drop from the end of the pole or boom upon the snow-bank, and will sink into the same and embed itself therein.

After the cartridge or torpedo has been embedded in the snow sufficiently, the rope or chain J is suddenly j erked to cause the weight L to descend very rapidly and suddenly. The upper end of the aperture N then strikes the head P of the bolt 0, and causes the lower end of the bolt to strike upon the cap T, which is exploded and causes the explosion of the cartridge or torpedo. If desired, the cartridge or torpedo can be fired by means of electricity or a friction-fuse or other device. By the explosion of the torpedo the snow is loosened and scattered, and its removal is greatly fa- I cilitated. By pulling the rope or chain toward the tower the cross-piece K draws the pulleys F G to the tower. structure 0 can be made telescopic or otherwise constructed to adapt it to be raised and lowered, and the boom or pole D can be made .removable.

The right is reserved to bring before the Patent Office one or more applications for pat- If desired, the

ents 011 the weight L, bolt 0, disk M, and spring Q for their particular construction, arrangement, or combination with one another.

H2 ving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The herein-described device for depositing torpedoes in snow-banks, consisting of a car containing a tower, from which a boom or pole projects in the direction of the front of the car, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a car, of a structure or tower on the same, and a boom projecting from the top of the tower in the direction toward the front of the car, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a car, of a tower or structure on the same, a pole or boom projecting from the front of the structure in the direction toward the front end of the car, and a track secured to the pole and inclined downward from the rear toward the outer end of the same, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with a car, of a struct ure or tower, O, on the same, the boom or pole D, the track E, the pulleys F G, and the rope or chain J, passing over the pulley G, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

The combination, with a car, of a structure or tower, O, on the same, the boom or pole D, the track E, the pulleys F G, the rope or chain J, and the cross-piece K, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

GEO. A. GUNTHER.

\Vitnesses:

OSCAR F. GUNZ, EDGAR TATE. 

